Guide · Updated 2026-09-23

Is Minute Wars legitimate?

Yes. Minute Wars is a real, veteran-owned live auction marketplace. This page explains payments, fees, support, and trust and safety before you bid.

Short answer

Minute Wars is a real, live online auction platform at minutewars.com. It runs hard 60-second bidding rounds with an optional pre-bid queue. The company is veteran-owned and founded by Brian Owens, a U.S. Army veteran and mechanical engineer.

Like any online marketplace, you should read the listing, check the total cost before you pay, and use a payment method with buyer protection.

Who runs it

Minute Wars is veteran-owned. Founder details and the company story are published on the About page. Customer support is reachable at support@minutewars.com and through the Support and Contact pages.

How money and fees work

Checkout uses Stripe for secure card payments (including Apple Pay and Google Pay where available). Winning bids are subject to buyer premium, shipping, and applicable tax.

Those amounts are shown at checkout before you pay. Use the checkout total — not seller reference prices alone — as your cost estimate. Card wallet top-ups are for spending on the site; only eligible refund credits can be withdrawn, as explained in the wallet guide and Terms.

Buyer and seller protections on-platform

Minute Wars publishes Trust & Safety rules covering auction integrity, prohibited items, seller shipping standards, and buyer payment expectations. Listings must follow the prohibited-items policy before they can appear in the public queue.

Users can report problems to support@minutewars.com. The platform may cancel bids, remove listings, or restrict accounts when needed to protect marketplace integrity. Dispute and payment timelines are in the Terms.

Smart ways to shop here

Review photos, condition notes, and shipping details on the item page before you bid. Bids are binding under the Auction Rules and Terms.

Confirm the full cost at checkout. Prefer a credit card or other method with strong buyer protection for online purchases. If something goes wrong after payment, contact support promptly and follow the dispute process in the Terms.